EN
The Maria Curie-Sklodowska University (UMCS) in Lublin was established on 23 October 1944 by the Polish Committee of National Liberation's pro-Moscow decree. The person chosen to be the vice-chancellor of the university was a pre-war socialist, Henryk Raabe. He met all the criteria demanded by the new communist regime. Firstly, he was a left-winger, but on the other hand, he was not a communist; he was not a member of the unpopular Polish Workers' Party. As such, he had a greater opportunity to create a necessary team of co-workers. Furthermore, as a socialist, he reflected the values promoted by propaganda, i.e. political pluralism and the alleged willingness to create a democratic state, in which there would be space for debate and diversity of views. The article approaches Henryk Rjaabe and opinions on him presented in the local press (1944-1989).